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Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 12:38 pm
by grymhild
Was: UD expansion?
Nyeleni wrote:Open a new thread in the forum if you want to write about interaction. This is about an UD expansion as the title says.
okay :-)

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 12:50 pm
by Flasmix
Dragonspear Castle is the obvious choice.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:01 pm
by The Whistler
Varalla's passage has a passage linking directly to Darkhold. I know there's been attempts in the past from the Zhentarim themselves, the 7th circle and the Dev'lin player guild about reopening the tunnel but they all deflated for one reason, or the other.

This would be the obvious choice as far as risk-free passage to and fro the surface goes. Naturally, it would be restricted to the Zhentarim and their allies so there should another route should be made available. I'm thinking multiple ones to avoid Black Archers and kinslayers camping one side or the other, looking for n00bz to pwn.

Honestly, the potential for intrigue and conflict increases tenfold with Vhaeraunites and Eilistraeens active on the surface and Shevarashans storming the Halls of Oghrann and conducting regular crusades (It's in the god's portfolio, after all). Yes, there is a chance for PvP getting out of hand, but no pain no gain amirite.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:03 pm
by Steve
Steve wrote:Whatever happened to the Areas built for Middledark?
I am the broken record.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:29 pm
by thids
The Whistler wrote:Varalla's passage has a passage linking directly to Darkhold. I know there's been attempts in the past from the Zhentarim themselves, the 7th circle and the Dev'lin player guild about reopening the tunnel but they all deflated for one reason, or the other.

This would be the obvious choice as far as risk-free passage to and fro the surface goes. Naturally, it would be restricted to the Zhentarim and their allies so there should another route should be made available. I'm thinking multiple ones to avoid Black Archers and kinslayers camping one side or the other, looking for n00bz to pwn.

Honestly, the potential for intrigue and conflict increases tenfold with Vhaeraunites and Eilistraeens active on the surface and Shevarashans storming the Halls of Oghrann and conducting regular crusades (It's in the god's portfolio, after all). Yes, there is a chance for PvP getting out of hand, but no pain no gain amirite.
I have roleplayed about opening those tunnels over the past 3 years so much, that I'm surprised I'm not having nightmares about Varalla's passage by now. We might be finally moving forward in that regard soon though. But, as you say, that route would be heavily regulated by the Black Network from one side, and likely the conclave on the other side. There should definitely be a few other places which connect the surface to the UD, and while they should be challenging, none of them should be as ridiculous as the Netherese maze is.

Whenever I roleplayed in the UD, I have noticed that a large number of drow PC's have a desire to interact with the surface... On the surface, a large number of evil PC's have a desire to interact with the UD (at least on the OOC level). Yes, there will be silly situations and RP which isn't appropriate, like a drow who sees the sun for the first time yet doesn't even take that into account... or surfacers who stroll down to the UD and RP as if their characters are down there to have a cup of tea with the drow, ignoring the fact that 90% of surfacers would be pissing themselves at the mere thought of having an entire continent above their heads, let alone at interacting with the ruthless drow culture... but inappropriate RP already happens in soooo many other things, and we look past it for the most part. At least in this case there -is- a positive side to consider. A positive side which might well enough outweigh all the potential negative experiences.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:33 pm
by The Whistler
Image
I can hardly wait lads.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:40 pm
by thids
The Whistler wrote:Image
I can hardly wait lads.
Water domain for Shevarash. Let's make surface great again.


Though just another thing to point out, if those tunnels below Darkhold ever do get cleared up, they might not even be represented in game with an actual link between Darkhold and Varalla's passage. This is not something that I have ever even discussed with anyone from the DM team as all the RP efforts have never moved past the discussion phase so far.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 2:20 pm
by Maximvs
Good old Shevarash. Good old excuse for pvp. One of the most debased form of RP out there. Kill drow, prepare for drow kill between hunts.

Bugbears offers more RP.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 2:36 pm
by The Whistler
What do bugbears and drow have in common ?

They're both monster races.

Wew, didn't you get told to gtfo a thread scant an hour ago for derailing it ?

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 2:50 pm
by Maximvs
lol. I'd say Shervarash elves are a monster to interesting RP though.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 4:02 pm
by Maecius
I know that many of these items are in discussion or are actively being considered by DMs and staff. These things do take time, however. As anyone who's ever worked with a bureaucracy or tried their hands at the toolset knows, both are slow moving.

Please feel welcome to continue the conversation here, of course. I merely want it to be known that a lot of these suggestions have been heard, or are being heard.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 5:17 pm
by Flasmix
The Whistler wrote:Image
I can hardly wait lads.
rofl is this really their symbol? Does it signify that they are cry babies because that's what it looks like to me.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 5:27 pm
by Lux
Flasmix wrote:
The Whistler wrote:Image
I can hardly wait lads.
rofl is this really their symbol? Does it signify that they are cry babies because that's what it looks like to me.
:lol:

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 5:47 pm
by thids
Maximvs wrote:lol. I'd say Shervarash elves are a monster to interesting RP though.
LOL! IKR!?

MINDLESS DROW RAIDS WITH NO ONE TO OPPOSE THEM PLS. TOP NOTCH RP.

Re: Brain-storming the Underdark / Surface interaction

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 5:49 pm
by Maximvs
Thids wrote:MINDLESS DROW RAIDS WITH NO ONE TO OPPOSE THEM PLS. TOP NOTCH RP.
Well, one offers death. The other offers death, or slavery, or any other kind of deal that benefits said drow... Although I agree not everybody has an interesting drow, and you may have encountered a wee bit too many of those in the past.